Switch plate



Aug. 19, 1 w E 2,252,829

SWITCH PLATE Filed May 2 1940 INVENTOR TORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE swi'rorr PLATE I William B. Bell, Millburn, N. J.

i 1 Application May 2, 1940, Serial No. 332,881

3 Claims.

This invention relates to. switch. plates and more particularly Itoswitch plates for outdoor use, such, for example, asnfor operating porch lights or the like. An object of the invention is to provide a waterproof switch plate for use with a standard tumbler. switch of .the type commonly used for controlling electric light circuits.

Another object is to provide a switch plate of the above type which is cheap and simple in construction and neat and pleasing in appearance.

Another object is to provide a switch plate of the above type which is suitable for commercial production.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the broader aspects of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a switch plate embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof" taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the construction of the operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the switch plate is shown as comprising a cover plate II] which is generally of standard construction and is adapted to be secured to the flange ll of an outlet box 12 by screws I3. A suitable liner l5, such as cork or the like, may be positioned beneath the cover plate l so as to effect a seal with the interior of the outlet box l2. It is to be understood that the outlet box I2 is secured in a wall I6 in any convenient manner. A tumbler or toggle switch 20 of standard construction is provided with a switch bracket 2| which is secured to the cover plate ID by screws 22. The

liner l may be provided with slots 23 to receive the bracket 2| and to permit the switch 20 to be firmly secured to the cover plate. The switch 20 is provided with an oscillatable control lever 26 by which the switch is operated.

It is to be understood that the tumbler switch,

control lever and associated parts thus far described are of standard construction and only so much thereof has been set forth as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the construction and type of switch may bevaried as desired. A specificembodiment has been set forth only for purposes of illustration.

In accordance with the present invention, the

cover plate 10 is provided with a round central aperture 30 through which the lever 26 extends. A cap 3| is rotatably mounted on the plate I0 and is adapted to form a closure for the aperture 30 and to provide sufficient clearance to receive and completely enclose the projecting end of the lever 23.

the cap 3|. This cup 32 is provided with a wall 33 which is spaced from the outer wall 34 of the cap 3| and is provided with an aperture 35 adapted to receive the lever 26. The wall 33 is preferably provided with an inturned flange 31 surrounding the aperture 35 and adapted to engage and operate the lever 26 in the manner to be described. Reenforcing bars 36 are shown as extending across the back of the plate I0 adjacent the aperture 30 to prevent the plate from distorting or buckling when the screws 22 are tightened. These bars 36 may have apertures 38 through which the screws 22 extend and which hold the bars in place.

The cap 3| may be mounted on the cover plate I0 in any convenient manner; In the embodiment shown, the cap 3| and cup 32 are provided with cooperating flanges 40 and 4| respectively which are disposed on opposite sides of the cover plate H] to form a bearing for the cap. A washer 42 may be seated between the cover plate l0 and the flange 4|) to form a seal so as to make the construction water-tight. The cup 32 and cap 3| may be secured together by any convenient means, such as soldering or brazing or the like. If desired, these members may be so constructed that they are held together by friction after they have been assembled, in which event, no additional holding means will be required.

The aperture 35 is formed eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the cap 3|. The switch 20 is mounted off-center with respect to the cap 3|, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that rotation of the cap through approximately in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3 serves to engage and actuatethe lever 26. The lever 26 being rigid against longitudinal movement, provides a stop to limit the rotational movement of the cap 3|. Consequently, the cap is rotatable through An internal cup 32 is positioned within I adapted to commercial production. The switch is completely weather-proof and dust-proof and may be used in various exposed locations.

While a particular embodiment of the inven tion has been set forth, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses, as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Certain specific terms have been used for convenience in referring to the various details of the invention. These terms, however, are to be given as broad an interpretation as the art will permit. The invention is to be limited only in accordance with the following claims. 7

What is claimed is: a 1. An outdoor-waterproof switch plate com prising a cover plate having an opening to receive the oscillating control lever of a tumbler switch, a cap rotatably mounted on said plate and forming a closure for said opening, said cap having an inner wall provided with an eccentric opening adapted to receive said lever, said cap being mounted off-center with respect to said control lever whereby said lever is actuated in response to movement of said eccentric opening.

2. An outdoor waterproof switch plate comprising a cover plate having an opening to receive the oscillating control lever of a tumbler switch, a cap rotatably mounted on said plate and forming a closure for said opening, and a cup seated within said cap, said cup having an eccentric opening adapted to receive said lever for actuating the same when said cap is rotated.

3. An outdoor waterproof switch plate comprising a cover plate having an opening to receive the oscillating control lever of a tumbler switch, a cap rotatably mounted on said plate and forming a closure for said opening, and a cup seated within said cap, a said cup having an eccentric opening adapted to receive said lever for actuating the same'when said cap is rotated, said'cap and said cup having flanges disposed respectively on opposite sides of said cover plate for providing a bearing by which said cap is rotatably mounted.

WILLIAM B. BELL. 

